Fixture support



4 Oct. 2, 1934. I D ARRAS ET AL 1,975,068

FIXTURE SUPPORT Filed May 9. 1952 George arms, Uzi/4912i E Mm'd,

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Patented Get. 2, 1934 PATENT orrlcs FIXTURE SUPPORT George Arras and Dwight E. Worrell, Chicago, Ill.

Application May 9, 1932, Serial No. 610,038 10' Claims. (Cl. 240128) This invention relates in general to a support for connecting fixture parts or for; supporting a socket within a reflector or shade, and has more particular reference to the attachment of a shade or reflector support of an electric fixture from an electric lighting socket.

One of the principal objects of the invention is in the provision of a connecting ring for joining portions of the same fixture or for connecting a fixture part to a support. I

A further object of the invention is in the provision of a split clamping ring which is actuated from the side opposite the split.

A further object of the invention is in themevision of a split clamping ring having means operable from the side opposite the split for engaging a support within the ring and at the same time'spreading the ring for connecting the support to a fixture part.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter, the preferred structures embodying the invention being illustrated inthe accompanying drawing.

Inthe drawing, Fig. 1 is an elevation of the fixture support embodying the principles of this invention;

" Fig. 1a is a detail of the clamping ring lock;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate sectional views of modified forms;

Fig. 5A is a detail of a spreader shown in Fig. 5; and

Figs. 6 and '7 are sectional views illustrating a split washer for connecting parts of the same fixture.

There are a number of different ways in which a' shade or reflector may be supported by means of a lamp socket and at the same time easily connected and disconnected therefrom when desired. The present invention provides a means comprising a split ring which has operating means therefor attached to the split ends of the ring but extending oppositely therefrom and actuated to spread the ring at the same time that a socket member within the ring is clampingly engaged. By actuating a single fastening device the split ring is actuated in both directions to clamp and engage the parts which it connects.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, a shade or reflector comprising adjacent parts 9 and 10 as shown in Fig. 6, are provided with adjacent flanges 11 and 12 respectively which are of approximately the same diameter and extend inwardly so that a single split ring 13 having a groove 14 may be sprung into engagement with the flanges 11 and 12 thereby holding the parts 9 and 1c firmly together. The outward springing of the ring engages the flanges and the ring must be sprung inwardly to disengage the groove 14 from at least one of the parts in order to separate them.

The operation of springing a split ring outwardly to engage a fixture part, and at the same time to engage a suitable support or a socket within the ring is illustrated in the other figures of the drawing. It may comprise a split ring 15 as shown in Fig. 3, having internal arms 16 attached to its extremity 17 by rivets 18 or other suitable fastening devices, the other end of each arm extending through an opposite opening 19, separated by a partition 20, and theprojecting extremities of the arms 16 being connected for compressive movement by a bolt or screw 21 which is threaded through one of the arms and extends loosely through the other arm nearest the head of the screw. The arms 16 in this construction extend close to the inside of the ring 15 which makes it adapted to engage a socket 22 of relatively large diameter. k

In order to engage a smaller lamp socket or support within the ring a construction as shown in Fig.4 may be employed in which a ring 25 has arms 26 connected by rivets 27 to its extremities, and the other ends of the arms extend through a single opposite opening 28 in the ring and are connected at the ends by a fastening screw 21.

In the form shown by Figs. 5 and 5A, a split ring'30 has a socket clamping member 31 within it comprising arms which are joined at the split portion of the ring by a perforated connector 32,

the other ends of the arms extending through an opposite opening 33in the ring and having the extremities 34 of the arms doubled upon themselves for additional strength and the arms connected by a fastening screw 21for clamping movement. In this construction the split ringis extended by a spreader 35 having an angular projection 36 for engaging between the split end of the ring'and being attached in place by a screw 37 which extends through a hole in the arm connector 32 and into a fastening nut 38 on the inside of the clamping member 31.

In any of the forms described the clamping and holding devices comprising a split ring and. the clamping arms for spreading the ring are adapted to engage and connect a shade and a support by the expansive action of the ring and the contracting action of the clamping arms. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, an outer shade holder or reflector 40 has an inwardly projecting flange 41 at its upper edge with a notch or notches 42 at one or more places, the flange being engaged by a groove 43 about the lower edge of the clamping ring 15. The arms 16 are adapted to embrace the lower end of a lamp socket 22 or other support for the shade and preferably to engage in a groove or recess 22a about the lower end of the socket 22, the arms 16 fitting loosely in the perforations 19 of the ring so that the arms may be spread to a considerable extent in applying the clamping device over a socket or support. I

When the parts are in assembled position the screw 21 is drawn up tightly against the extremities of the arms, drawing them about the inner socket or support which tends to expand the opposite ends of the arms which are attached to the split extremities of the ring. This action will separate the split ends of the ring, expanding the ring into firm engagement with the flange of the shade or reflector and thus clamping the socket or support and engaging a surrounding shade or reflector at the same time and by the opposite action of the parts.

It is desirable to have one end of the split ring formed with an outward projection 44 in its groove and a perforation 45 to engage the angular corner of the notch or notches 42 of the flange 41, for the purpose of holding or engaging the ring and holding it in place with respect to the shade or reflector.

With this construction a reflector and its support are easily and quickly connected by a single fastening screw of a connecting device in which the clamping action of one part expands the engaging means connected thereto, producing a. wedging action between the parts to be connected which holds them firmly in place. It is obvious that the same or a similar clamping device may be used in connection with lighting fixtures and for connecting similar parts, particularly where one of the members to be connected surrounds the other and provides a space between them in which the clamping arms may be located and operated. The expanding member being split adapts it to be readily and easily inserted within another member so that the entire device is easily attached and removed in whatever connection it is used.

We claim:

1. A split fixture ring and clamping means within and of less diameter than the ring connected to the split ends thereof and extending through the opposite side of the ring for joint operation of the ring and said means.

2. A split fixture ring, and support clamping means in the ring attached to the split ends and extending across within but protruding outside of the ring on the opposite side, and an operating device for said means outside of the ring.

3. A split fixture ring, support clamping means within the ring and operating means comprising an arm extending from each split end within the ring and through the opposite side of the ring, and means connecting the arms outside the ring for relative movement.

4. The combination with a fixture part and a support, one fitting loosely within the other, of a spring ring connector therefor having split ends and inner arms connected to the endsof the ring and extending therein to embrace a part or support therein and extending through the opposite side of the ring, and means outside of the ring for engaging the arms and actuating them and the ring.

5. The combination with a fixture support and a surrounding shade part, of a split ring extensible to engage said part, arms within the ring attached to the ends thereof and embracing the support, the other ends of the arms extending through the ring at the side opposite the split,.

and clamping means engaging the extending arm ends actuated to extend the ring when the arms engage the support within and to retract the ring when the arms are expanded.

6. In a fixture support, a split ring, means to expand the ends thereof and to clamp a support or part therein, said means comprising arms extending from the split ring ends through the 0pposite sides thereof, and clamping screw means connecting the arms at the ends outside the ring.

7. In a fixture support, a plurality of fixture parts having adjacent edges with inward projections, and a split ring with outwardly projecting edges to embrace said projections of adjacent fixture parts between them and expansible to engage and connect the parts, and retractible to release them.

8. The combination with a lamp support, of a surrounding shade holder, a split ring engageable with the inside of the holder, arms connected to the split ends of the ring to engage the support within, the arms extending .to the outside of the ring, and means engaging the extending endsof the arms to move them against the support and by such movement to separate the ends of the split ring expanding it into engagement with the shade holder.

9. The combination with inner and outer members to be connected, of a splitring connector therefor comprising arms connected to the ring ends and extending through the oppo ite side of the ring embracing the inner member, and means for connecting the extending ends of the arms to move them inwardly against the inner member and to expand the split ring outwardly against the outer member.

10. In a structure according to claim 9, a notch in the outer member and a perforation at the end of the ring to engage in the notch and limit rotation of the ring, the ring end resiliently engaging the notch and being sprung therefrom for disengagement.

GEORGE AREAS. DWIGHT E. WORRELL.

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